Mouthpiece for telephone-transmitters.



No. 772,310. PATENTED OCT. 11, 1904.

'1. s. ASHE.

MOUTHPIEGE FOR TELEPHONE TEANSMITTERS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 18. 1904.

N0 MODEL. I

UNITED STATES Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT ()FFICE.

IVIOUTHPIECE FOR TELEPHONE-TRANSMITTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 7'7 2,310, dated October 11, 1904.

Application filed June 18, 1904.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IRA S. ASHE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Mouthpieces for Telephone -Transmitters, of which the following is a specification.

The main object of my invention is to provide a telephone-transmitter with a double mouthpiece, so that two persons, one immediately following the other, need not use the same mouthpiece. A further object of the invention is to provide a mouthpiece with a valve to close the transmitter when desired, so as to prevent the ingress of dirt and dust.

These objects I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a face view of a transmitter, showing the valve in position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View showing one of the mouthpieces turned in position, and Figs. 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating details of my invention.-

A is an ordinary telephone-transmitter having the usual open diaphragms, though instead of having the mouthpiece secured directly to the casing of the transmitter I secure to said casinga bearing-piece B, consisting of a ring 6 and a projecting portion 6, which is bent, as shown, so as to form a double bearing for the pivot-pin d of the pivoted plate D. The bearing is secured to the telephone in the present instance by the perforated disk (0, which has a flange (0, and this disk is screwed into the casing of the transmitter, thus holding the bearing between the flange (0 and said casing. By this means the bearing is firmly locked to the receiver,'so that the plate D can be turned on its pivot-pin cl, there being sufficient friction between the two members of the bearing to hold the plate in its adjusted position without other appliances. The plate, as shown in Fig. 4,has screw-threaded openings d (F, in which are screwed the two mouthpieces C and C, and the depending portion d of the plate D forms a valve for closing the transmitter-opening, as shown in Fig. 1, so that conversation can be carried on in Serial No. 213,105. (No model.)

the room while the receiver is off its hook without the person at the other end of the telephone hearing such conversation and that without the necessity of placing the hand over the mouthpiece.

My invention is especially applicable to telephones used in pay-stations, oflices, or other places of business, or in sick-rooms or hospitals where a clerk is instructedto call up a certain person for another party and it is not desirable for the second party to immediately use the same mouthpiece used by the clerk or other person. With my device when it is desired to call up a party the clerk turns the plate so that one mouthpiece will aline with the transmitter, calls the number, obtains the party, and then turns the plate on its pivot so as to shift the mouthpiece used by him away from the transmitter. He thus brings the second mouthpiece in line with the transmitter, the advantage of such operation being appreciated when it is noted that there Y is always considerable perspiration or moisture left in a mouthpiece after it has been used, so that it is undesirable for a second person to immediately use the same mouthpiece.

The mouthpiece out ofline with the transmitter is open throughout, so that it can be thoroughly ventilated and completely dried, as it is free for the passage of a current of air through it, and it will be further noted that in addition to being kept free from objectionable odors the liability of transmission of disease-germs is greatly reduced.

I preferably so shape the plate that the faces of the recesses at each side of the pivot form stops to limit the movement of said plate in either direction, so that either one or the other of the mouthpieces can be brought into direct line with the transmitter wvithout-further adjustment.

I may provide means for sliding the mouth pieces into and out of position instead. of pivoting them, as shown, without departing from my invention, and though I may use thetwo or more mouthpieces without the valve-section I prefer the construction shown.

It will be understood that while my invention is especially adapted for use on telephonetransmitters it may be used in connection with speaking-tubes without departing from the invention.

1 claim as my invention 1. The combination of a transmitter, a plurality of mouthpieces therefor and means for mounting said mouthpieces constructed so that any of the same can be brought into operative relation with the transmitter, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a transmitter, a plate pivoted thereto, two mouthpieces carried by the plate and so pivoted that either one or the other of the mouthpieces can be brought into line with the transmitter, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a transmitter, a pl ate, two mouthpieces carried by the plate, a valve also carried by the plate and so arranged that either one of the mouthpiecesor the valve can be brought into line with the transmitter, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a transmitter, a plate pivoted thereto, two mouthpieces carried by the plate, a valve also carried by the plate mounted between the mouthpieces, stops on the plate to limit the movement of the mouthpieces so that either one of the mouthpieces can be brought into line with the transmitter without further adjustment, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a telephone-transmitter, of a perforated disk therefor, a bearing clamped between the disk and the casing of the transmitter, a plate pivoted to the bearing, and two mouthpieces carried by the plate, the plate being so pivoted that either one of the mouthpieces can be brought into line with the transmitter, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a telephone-transmitter, a perforated disk, a bearing having a ring-section and an arm bent at one end, a plate, said bearing being clamped between the telephone-transmitter and the disk, a plate mounted between the body and the bent portion of the bearing, a pivot-pin therefor, and two mouthpieces mounted on the plate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRA S. ASHE. WVitn esses:

WILLIAM E. BRADLEY, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

